Chapter 5 - Divine Apostasy Book 2

Chapter 5

Bliz sat down across from Ruwen and slapped his hand down on the table. When he lifted it, five rings lay in a pile. Each silver ring had twisting yellow metal through it.

Bliz picked up one of the rings, set it on its side, and flicked it. The ring spun in a tight circle, moving in a slow arc around the table. “A piece of advice when it comes to Energy gear. Distribute it across your body as much as you can. Bad luck always brings friends. A Collector I know was unloading a crate of weapons from his band. The crate busted and a sword sliced off his hand. The hand with all his Energy rings. In shock from the loss of his hand, and no longer having the Energy Regeneration to keep his band open, he died three seconds later of Energy depletion.”

The ring wobbled, its path becoming erratic. Ruwen picked it up before it fell over.

Tring!

The Worker’s Lodge has loaned you…

Name: Coiled Lightning Ring

Quality: Fine

Durability: 11 of 16

Weight: 0.1 lbs.

Effect (Passive): +5 Energy per second.

Restriction: Worker Class

Description: A trapped lightning bolt powers this ring. Ring stability is proportional to durability. Never use in water.

“This ring is amazing,” Ruwen said.

“The other four are the same. Twenty-five Energy will let you keep a six-foot circle open indefinitely. Which you're going to need when loading everyone up for this trip.”

Ruwen placed three Coiled Lightning Rings to his right and two to his left. Since his Ring of Exploding Regeneration provided Energy as well, it made sense to put it in the smaller pile. He removed the ring and placed it to his right.

Bliz’s advice about Energy was just as valid for Health items. Since his Ring or Exploding Regeneration was already in the right-hand pile, he placed the Rock Serpent Ring of Health in the left-hand pile bringing it to four rings. He put his Jaga Wedding Band in the right-hand pile to bring it to four as well. Satisfied, he slid all the rings on. His skin itched, and it felt like a breeze brushed the hair on his arms.

“You’ll get used to the sensation,” Bliz said.

Ruwen looked at his Profile page and marveled at the Energy Regeneration.

General

Name: Ruwen Starfield

Race: Human

Age: 16

Class: Worker

Hidden Class: Root (Observer)

Level: 5

Class Rank: Novice

Cultivation Stage: 19

Cultivation Rank: Initiate

Deaths: 2

Diety: Goddess Uru

Experience: 1,692/15,000

Marks

Black Pyramid: Novice

Bamboo Viper Clan: Novice

Pools

Health: 155/155

Mana: 190/190

Energy: 273/273

Spirit: 352,164

Attributes

Strength: 13

Stamina: 13

Dexterity: 15

Intelligence: 19

Wisdom: 12

Charisma: 12

Ratings

Knowledge: 37 

Armor Class: 82

Max Encumbrance: 195 

Critical Chance %: 2.50% 

Power Strike %: 2.60% 

Haste %: 3.00% 

Dodge %: 5.00%

Persuasion %: 6.90% 

Resilience %: 14.50% 

Endurance %: 2.60% 

Cleverness %: 39.90%

Perception %: 32.40% 

Resistances

Elemental Resistance %: 16.50% 

Poison Resistance %: 16.50% 

Acid Resistance %: 16.50% 

Mind Resistance %: 16.50% 

Order Resistance %: 16.50% 

Chaos Resistance %: 12.50% 

Disease Resistance %: 16.50% 

Light Resistance %: 16.50% 

Dark Resistance %: 14.50%

Regeneration

Health Regeneration per second: 1.31 

Mana Regeneration per second: 1.48 

Energy Regeneration per second: 28.73

Ruwen rubbed his arms. He wondered what Bliz’s Regeneration rate was, but knew better than to ask. If people wanted you to know their stats, they made it public. Bliz was forty-six levels higher than Ruwen, so there was no way his Perception would pick it up. Merchants and Priests seemed to be the only Classes that were generally open about their values.

Bliz removed a box about the size of Ruwen’s forearm from his band and set it on the table. The brown wood looked distressed, and the entire box appeared ancient. Clasped Hands were etched beautifully on the box’s cover.

Bliz placed a hand on top of the box. “These are special. This will be the first time they get used on one of these adventures. It is what Big D wanted me to give you.”

“That is a lot of mystery.”

“I know. These have been in the temple’s vault for who knows how long. The City Council required they turn them over to us.”

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

Bliz smiled. “Maybe a little. I’m not supposed to tell you much about these, but I’m a firm believer in knowing exactly what I’m transporting. You should too.”

Bliz opened the box, and Ruwen saw ten necklaces, each in their own velvet depression. They didn’t look valuable. The ratty brown string held an inch long amulet in the shape of the Worker’s symbol of clasping hands.

“That’s a lot of buildup for what looks like something I made when I was eight,” Ruwen said.

“Never judge a judge by how much he drinks.”

“Is that even a saying?”

Bliz’s mouth twisted in thought. “Probably not.” Bliz closed the box.

“Big D didn’t tell you what they did, did she.”

“Well, I started to make a big fuss about not putting dangerous things in my band –”

“You have lava in there!”

Bliz held up his hands. “Hypothetically. Anyway, by the time she finished talking to me, I had agreed to keep this all secret. I didn’t realize until after she hadn’t really told me anything. That woman is a Mind Mage in disguise.”

“I wonder what they do.”

There were three hard knocks on the door. “You better not be sitting in there drinking, Bliz,” Big D said. “We leave in two minutes.”

Bliz’s eyes widened, and he closed the lid of the box. In quick succession, he removed another five boxes. The new boxes only differed in color and symbol, but the ancient look of the boxes remained.

Ruwen opened the Observer box and peeked inside. These necklaces looked identical to the Worker ones except the amulet was a pair of eyes.

“The reason why you’re carrying it and not Big D is because these consume Energy and won’t go in a normal Dimensional Bag. They’ll only go in ours.”

“How much Energy?”

“Each box took one, so six Energy per second total.”

“Isn’t that odd? I thought only living things consumed Energy.”

Bliz shrugged. “I should have stayed more focused when talking to Big D. I don’t have an explanation for this, sorry.”

“I’ll figure it out and tell you when I get back.”

“That sounds great. My curiosity is killing me.”

Ruwen opened his Void Band wide, almost three feet, and his Energy bar never budged from full. He smiled as he picked up each box and stored it. It was nice not having to worry about killing himself for once.

“Okay, let’s go before Big D knocks down my door,” Bliz said.

Ruwen put his half cup of cider in his band. Bliz let them out and Ruwen walked around the pillar to find Big D giving directions to another Worker. Ruwen walked over to Sift and Hamma who were both eating.

Hamma handed Ruwen a breakfast sandwich. The flatbread had been folded on three sides and was filled with eggs, sausage, and cheese.

“Thanks,” Ruwen said.

“Hamma bought them,” Sift said. “They’re delicious.”

Hamma stared at Sift and then looked at Ruwen. “You’d never know he was literally almost dead an hour ago.”

“Oh, he gets a lot weirder. Hopefully, we don’t end up in a fight. Some things you can’t unsee,” Ruwen said.

“Hamma said you caused all this,” Sift said, waving his sandwich around.

Ruwen looked at Hamma.

“Well, that’s what you told those Enforcement soldiers, and it’s the only thing people are talking about here,” Hamma said.

“Why aren’t they using, appahs?” Sift asked.

“City Council banned them from the middle and center rings of the city. So we won’t see any until we reach the outskirts,” Hamma said.

“Why would they do that?” Sift asked.

“People complained about the droppings and the added congestion,” Hamma said.

“And by people, she means the well off,” Ruwen said.

“It’s more complicated than that,” Hamma said with a frown.

“I thought I saw an appah once. But then it shot a beam of light out of its horn. Burned my clothes right off. Hopefully, you don’t have…” Sift’s voice trailed off when he looked up from his sandwich.

Hamma stared at Sift, and Ruwen raised his eyebrows and shook his head.

Sift grimaced. “Sorry. Stupid secrets.”

Big D walked up to their group.

Ruwen wiped crumbs from his mouth. “Big D, these are my friends. Hamma and Sift.”

Big D crossed her arms over her chest and bowed to Hamma. “Her blessings on you, Sister Hamma.”

Big D remained bent over.

Hamma kissed her index and middle fingers and held them up. “Her favor on your plans, her light across your path, her mercy in your heart,” Hamma said and placed the fingers on the back of Big D’s head.

Big D kissed her own two fingers and touched her heart, mouth, and forehead. “Thank you, Sister.”

Ruwen stared at Big D. He hadn’t figured she was the religious type.

“Are you still at the Holy Academy?” Big D asked.

Hamma shook her head. “I was placed in the temple for specialized training.”

Big D raised her eyebrows. “Impressive, you must be special.”

“Not really,” Hamma said her cheeks pink.

“And humble, too,” Big D said with a smile.

Big D faced Sift, and stared at him for a moment, probably inspecting him. Ruwen hoped the tattoo’s disguise held up to Big D’s seventy-one levels.

Big D held out her arm and Sift gripped it. “Well met, Sift. We don’t see many Fighters specializing in Unarmed Combat. Everyone wants a chunk of metal to hold.”

Sift smiled and let go of Big D’s arm. “It’s all I’ve ever known.”

“Do you follow the Step Tournaments?” Big D asked.

“He just recently got here,” Ruwen said.

“The Burning Scorpions will win this year,” Sift said with confidence.

Big D tilted her head. “Aren’t they third in their division?”

“Yes, but only because of bad luck and worse judges. By the time the Championships arrive, they’ll have earned a spot.”

Ruwen stared at Sift.

“They’re a good team. I like the Sand Spirits.”

Sift nodded. “Solid team. Good balance of hard and soft techniques. I could live with them winning.”

Big D faced Ruwen and pointed to two large Workers standing ten feet behind her. “That’s Wip and Qip. They’re not Step fighters, but they’re good in a fight. Their job is to keep people away from you and help out if any trouble finds us. I’ll let all my people know about your friends, so they don’t get hassled.”

“Thank you, Big D,” Ruwen said.

Big D turned to Sift. “Let’s talk later, and I’ll tell you my theory on what teams are secretly part of Clans.”

Sift grinned and nodded his head. Big D walked past Wip and Qip and yelled for Bliz.

“How on Uru’s last breath do you know about Step tournaments?” Ruwen asked.

“Io keeps me up-to-date,” Sift said. He looked down at his waist and the hidden sheath that contained Io. “I know. She has good taste in teams.”

Ruwen stepped closer to Sift. “Will you stop that.”

“Stop what?” Sift asked.

“Who are you talking to?” Hamma asked Sift.

Ruwen held up his hands. “Everybody stop. No more questions until I figure out how to unload all these secrets. And Sift, under no circumstances are you to talk with Big D. That woman has some sort of magic that,” Ruwen twirled a finger near his temple, “messes with your head.”

“She seemed really nice,” Hamma said. “Nothing like my mom described her.”

“Who is your mom? That officer seemed really worried after he found out who you were.”

Hamma smirked. “You just said no more questions.”

“Yeah, you did say that,” Sift agreed.

Ruwen gritted his teeth.

“Let’s get started,” Big D yelled.

Ruwen stuffed the rest of his sandwich in his mouth and followed Big D out of the Worker’s Lodge.